Building construction



J. 31, 1939. I AA, RElNHARD 2,145,49

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Original Filed June '5, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN T 0R.-

v TTORNEY.

Patented Jan. 31, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Arthur A. Reinhard, La Crescenta, Calif.

Application June 5, 1934, Serial No. 729,050 Renewed October 18, 1935 11 Claims. (01. 72115) This invention has relation to building conis bent into the U-shape, as indicated'in Fig. 4, struction, and refers particularly to a framing it is seen that the center lips 3 are bent to rise member or unit adaptable to many uses in the from the body of the brace. As the braces 4 are construction of lighter building, such as dwellshaped and formed in exactly the same manner,

5 ings, garages or ordinary store buildings, and to it is not thought necessary further to illustrate 5 improved methods of combining such units into these parts. complete building frames. To assemble the braces 3 with the bars and 2,

The general object of my invention is to proit is only necessary to bend one of the outer lips, vide a fabricated metal framing unit to take the in this case 3, around one side edge of each bar,

place of wooden studding, rafters, floor and ceilsubstantially as shown in Fig. 1, leaving the other 10 ing joists and other wooden parts of frame buildouter lip unbent. The center lips are seen to rise ing construction. A further object is to combine along the inner surface of the side bars. the units of my invention and to embed the as- The diagonal braces 4, which as stated are sembled units in the compounds ordinarily ernmade exactly like the cross braces 3, and differ ployed to cover the frames of such buildings, from these in length only, are then assembled "15 Another object is to provide a framing unit comon the bars by bending their outer lips i 4 posed of few simple and inexpensive parts of like around the edges of the bars. The center lips shape and merely varying in length to suit partake a position adjacent to the lips 3*. Or, the ticular conditions. A further object is the prodiagonal braces may first be assembled with the vision of a framing unit including means for supbars and the lips 3 of the cross braces then bent 20 porting the wires, paper and wire mesh exten- I over these diagonal braces, if preferred. sively used in frame-stucco building construction. This completes the unit of my invention. The

With the foregoing objects in view, my invenlength of the particular part, as well as the width tion consists in the combinations and features and thickness of the metal used, depends entirely hereinafter fully described and illustrated in the upon the type and size of building to which my .25

appended drawings, of which: invention is applied.

Fig. 1 shows a portion of a fabricated metal The structure of Fig. 5 illustrates the preferred unit embodying the invention, method of embodying the units of my invention Fig. 2 is a plan view substantially in agreein the construction of a building and suggests ment with Fig. 1, some of the uses to which the invention is adapt- 30 Fig. 3 illustrates the shape of parts forming able. elements of the unit of my invention, before they The numeral l6 denotes a concrete foundation, are bent into shape, into which a series of units I! are shown em- Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the same parts bedded to form the outer wall studding of the as they appear after bending into shape, building. The next step in the construction of 35 Fig. 5 illustrates the preferred method of treathe i ing, according to my p rr method, ing assembled unit of my invention to produce a is t p ace s it l building p such as r homogeneous building structure, narily used in stucco construction, against the Fig. 6 shows a modified detail of construction, inner surfaces l 2* of the side bars and to string and wires I2 along the units to support this paper. 40

Fig. 7 is a perspective View of one of the diag- In Fig. 1, the location of these wires and the onal members. paper i3 is best shown, and it is seen that the Referring in the first instance to Figs. 1 and 2, inner lips 4' serve to hold the wires in posiit is seen that the unit of my invention comprises tion, pressed aga the p p two parallel side bars I and 2, combined by means Against the outer edges l 2*, of the side bars, 45 of cross braces -5 and diagonal braces 4. is laid a layer of wire mesh, or expanded metal All of these parts are shown substantially U- lath, l4, through which the lips 3 of the cross shaped in cross section, and they may convenbraces, Will project. These lips are thereupon iently be made from galvanized sheet metal strips bent back against the bars to hold the lath firmly which have previously been bent into such U- in position on the bars. 50 shape. The bars I and 2 are plain channels, but Suitable composition, such as concrete stucco the cross braces 3 are formed from blanks of the or plaster is then applied to the lathing along the required length which have been slit, substanouter and inner surfaces of the wall. This come tially as indicated in Fig. 3, to provide three lips pletes the wall. 3 3 and 3, at each end. When the strip now Where horizontal beams are required for sup- 55 porting floors or roof rafters, it is merely required to lay paper and lathing within the units, at the proper height, to form a horizontal trough and to apply some cement to cover the lathing. When this cement has hardened sufficiently, concrete may be poured into the trough to form a solid beam.

The ceiling joists l5, and roof rafters It may be exactly like the studding H. If a concrete beam ii is provided at the juncture of these parts, in the manner just described, and the projecting lips of the braces are initially bent to tie the units together, it is found that the subsequent application of the stucco compositions combines all the units into one strong and elastic homogeneous structure, capable of withstanding vibrations as well as severe shocks without cracking or suffering any other damage.

Wooden floor joists may be laid on a concrete beam l8 in the usual manner, or units, such as hereinbefore described, may be employed, as indicated at l9. For the sake of added strength, the diagonal braces of these floor units are shown differently arranged, but the parts used and the method of assembling the units remain exactly as described.

From the foregoing, it is seen that I am able to construct a complete building out of simple and inexpensive parts, the inner walls of the building being duplications of the outer Walls. The homogeneity of the structure assures even expansion and contraction and consequent elimination of the troubles commonly encountered in frame-stucco buildings, where the coefficient of expansion of the wooden frame is so much greater than that of the stucco composition, that the latter in the course of time becomes filled with cracks of all sizes.

Furthermore, it is important to note that this result is attained without the use of any forms. It is only necessary to set the units in the soft concrete foundation and to permit this concrete to harden. The succeeding operations do not differ from ordinary frame-stucco building construction, except that nailing and furring operations are dispensed with and the time saved thereby sufficient to counterbalance the possibly higher cost of the fabricated metal units. The folded lips of the cross and diagonal braces become so firmly imbedded in the stucco that the whole structure would have to be wrecked to separate the parts.

Where forms are used to support the paper, lathing and studding during the plastering operation, such forms must be extracted from the walls before floor or ceiling joists and rafters can be added. If forms subsequently are used for supporting the fioor and roof material, it would be a very diflicult matter to extract such forms from the finished fioors or roof. The structure of my invention requires no expensive forms and eliminates the problem of extracting such forms. My framing is complete before applying the stucco.

Where doors or windows are desired, it is only required to pour concrete beams at the top and bottom of the openings for such, in the manner described. No change in the process of construction herein described is necessary.

The drawings are merely illustrative of the preferred form of my invention. No attention has been paid to correct proportioning, and merely enough is shown to enable those versed in the art to construct a building in accordance with my invention, as defined in the following claims, in which the terms stucco supports and lathing are used as generic names for all the supporting elements ordinarily employed in frame-stucco building construction, including the paper and wires above mentioned; and in which the term stucco compositions designates any material which is applied in a plastic state to cover the outside and. inside exposed surfaces of such building, and which dry out to form permanent hard surfaces.

In conclusion, I wish to draw attention to the readiness with which my invention adapts itself to various uses by suggesting the improvement in fireproof reinforced building construction which may be effected by its use.

After the concrete has been poured to cover the skeleton of such buildings and the forms have been removed, the wall spaces remain open, and such spaces as are not occupied by doors or windows are generally fitted with expanded lath and filled with concrete to form solid, dead and non-insulating walls. But, by merely molding a groove in the exposed top and bottom surfaces of these spaces, when the forms are first set, in which to seat the units of my invention, a light, strong, sound and temperature insulating wall may be obtained, in the manner above described, very much superior to and cheaper than the aforenamed hand made solid wall.

Various modifications of the structure of my invention are possible and the method of embodying the units into buildings may be varied, but the principle of the fabricated sheet metal unit shaped to receive and hold the supports for the stucco, concrete or plaster coverings remains unchanged. It may, for example, be found preferable, instead of providing both a stucco or concrete flooring, 20, on top of the beams l9 and a ceiling 2| along their underside, merely to cover the units IS with lathing 22, see Fig. 6, and to apply concrete to this lathing to form a joist substantially the shape of the ordinary wooden planks used in frame-stucco buildings.

I claim:

1. A fabricated sheet metal unit comprising, a pair of parallel channeled side bars, equidistant channeled cross braces bridging the space between said bars, and channeled braces diagonally connecting the joints of the cross braces with the bars, all of said braces having lips projecting from both ends and folded around the edges of said bars to tie the unit together.

2. For use in metal lath and stucco construction, a fabricated sheet metal unit comprising, a pair of parallel channeled side bars arranged with their open faces disposed in opposite directions, similar channel shaped cross braces bridging the space between said bars, and similar channel shaped braces diagonally connecting the joints of the cross braces with the said bars, all of said braces having lips projecting from both ends, the lips of the cross braces being folded around the flanges of the bars, one lip of the diagonal braces being folded over the adjacent folded lip of the cross braces, the other lip being left projecting for the anchoring of metal lath to the open faces of the bars.

3. For use in metal lath and stucco construction, a fabricated sheet metal unit comprising, a pair of parallel channeled side bars arranged with their open faces disposed in opposite directions, similar channel shaped cross braces bridging the space between said bars, and similar channel shaped braces diagonally connecting the joints of the cross braces with the said bars, all of said braces being shaped like the bars and formed from a rectangular strip of sheet metal lengthwise slitted at each end in line with the corner edges of the channels to form three lips, the center one of which is bent away from the outer lips, the unit being assembled by folding the outer lips of one set of braces around the flanges of the bars and then folding one on the outer lips of the other set of braces over the adjacent folded lip of the first braces, the other lip being left projecting for suporting wire lath, the center lips rising along the back of the bars for supporting wire used in such construction.

4. For use in metal lath and stucco construction, a sheet metal unit comprising a pair of parallel channelled side bars opening in opposite directions, similarly shaped cross braces and diagonal braces having outer lips at each end overlapping each other and folded over the flanges of said side bars, one of said lips being left projecting for suporting metal lath, there being between the outer lips a central lip bent back to take a rising position along the back of the adjacent side bar.

5. A fabricated sheet metal unit comprising, a pair of channeled side bars, channeled braces bridging the space between said bars, and channeled braces diagonally connecting the joints of the cross braces with the bars, all of said braces having lips projecting from both ends and folded around the edges of said bars to tie the unit together.

6. For use in metal lath and stucco construction, a sheet metal unit comprising channeled side bars opening in opposite directions, similarly shaped cross braces, and diagonal braces, all of said braces having outer lips at each end overlapping each other and folded over the flanges of said side bars, one of said lips being left projecting for supporting metal lath, there being between the outer lips a central lip bent back to take a rising position along the back of the adjacent side bars.

7. A fabricated sheet metal unit comprising, channeled side bars, channeled braces bridging the space between said bars, and channeled braces diagonally connecting the joints of the cross braces with the bars, all of said braces being shaped at both ends to be folded around the flanges of said bars to tie the unit together.

8. In frame-stucco construction including backing and lathing for the stucco, a pair of side bars, braces bridging the space between said bars, the ends of said braces being slit into fingers for folding around said bars and to provide elements for supporting such backing along the inner surface of the bars and such lathing along the outer bar surface, the parts combining with the stucco composition applied thereto to form an integral structure comprising two reinforced cementitious slabs rigidly combined by said braces and having the side bars and the joints of the braces with the bars completely imbedded in the slabs.

9. In frame-stucco construction including backing and lathing for the stucco, units comprising side bars, braces bridging the space between said bars, the ends of said braces being slit into three fingers, one of which is folded around the bar it contacts, the other two to sup-. port the backing along the inner surface of the bars and the lathing along the outer bar surface, the parts upon application of the stucco combining to form two solid cementitious slabs in which the side bars and the brace joints with the bars are completely imbedded.

10. In a frame-stucco wall on a concrete foundation, stud units comprising side bars vertically seated in the concrete of said foundation, and braces bridging the space between said bars, the ends of said braces being slit into three fingers, one for tying the braces to the side bars and the others for supporting stucco backing and lathing, the parts upon application of stucco composition to fill the spaces between the lathing and the said backing combining to form two solid cementitious slabs in which the side bars and the brace joints are solidly imbedded.

11. In frame-stucco construction including backing and lathing for the stucco, a stud comprising a pair of side bars, braces made at the ends with lips to fold around said bars to tie the braces to the bars and to support said lathing along the outer surface of the bars, one of said lips at each end of the braces being shaped to lie along the inner surface of the bars to support said backing, the parts combining when stucco composition is applied to the lathing to form two solid cementitious slabs in which the side bars and the brace joints are imbedded.

ARTHUR A. REINHARD. 

